"A World to Win" organisation. Any thoughts?

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Lazy Riser's picture
Lazy Riser
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Jun 25 2005 10:46
"A World to Win" organisation. Any thoughts?

Hi

I've been observing the progress of this organisation...

http://www.aworldtowin.net/

I have a number of problems with them, including questions over their position on electoral participation, their idea of the role of the revolutionary party and their stand on the role of markets.

(Although I expect World To Win's positions are closer to those of many classical left-anarchists than they are to mine)

I'd appreciate anybody lending their experience to predict the life cycle of this organisation.

Other than their anti-parliamentariansm and drawing on different historical traditions, are these guys substantially different from the Green Party?

Cheers

Chris

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PaulMarsh
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Jun 25 2005 12:42

Its a WRP splinter, re-branding their politics for the post-Trotsky age.

They have also been rather quick to get into bed with David Shayler.

Avoid.....

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Lazy Riser
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Jun 25 2005 16:56

Hi Paul, I'm glad to meet you.

I understand they are (what you might politely call) a development of the orthodox Leninist MSF. However, their programme is anti-parliamentary councilist. You're preaching to the choir in telling me to avoid them socially or from the point of view of some kind of alliance. I was proposing something more along the lines of an anthropological study, unless you are suggesting they've got, like, a plague or something.

I would appreciate you showing your sources for the WRP splinter, I'm glad I've got a fellow sectarian trainspotter to chat with.

How do you think their project will pan out? how are their finances?

I think we might do everyone a favour by dissecting them in the interests of science. Who knows? maybe AWTW will advance by observing the input given here by the lofty intellects that I know are hanging out here.

Cheers, in solidarity.

Chris

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Partisan
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Jul 6 2005 15:04

As far as I am aware none of them have got the plague, current financial position I'm not sure of. They are as far as my reading of them goes a positive and challenging new force on the political front, being a loosely based coalition of people of a broadly left persuasion with a core of commitedly revolutionary individuals. They come from a non-dogmatic Trotskyist perspective, (a contradiction in terms some may say but not necessarily always so in my experience.)

They are in fact substantially different from the Green Party, since they're not a party in the first place, and rather more far reaching than just another reformist party or organisation.

I would recommend reading the book A World to Win for those who haven't - since it aims as much, in my opinion of it, to create discussion around a number of issues - social, economic, environmental and artistic, as to provide a practical prescription for a world free from the many oppressions we currently labour under. As for the role of a revolutionary party, markets etc. it's my impression that it's all up for discussion and debate. An interesting and as far as I am aware, a rapidly growing movement definitely worth keeping an eye on. No set in stone manifesto as yet and hopefully they'll remain as flexible and non-hierarchical as they seem to be at present. Extra-parliamentary, anti-parliamentary, electoral ambitions eventually, time will tell.

As for being a splinter of the old WRP, well people can change.

All the best,

Fi.

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Lazy Riser's picture
Lazy Riser
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Jul 6 2005 15:15

Hi

What a nice post.

Thanks

Chris

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darren red star
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Jul 6 2005 16:01

I just found this ...

http://www.aworldtowin.net/org.htm

Do they have as many members as they have bubbles?

confused

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the button's picture
the button
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Jul 6 2005 16:05

Just had a look at that. "Co-ordination group," eh? Would a Central Committee by any other name smell as sweet?

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Larry O'Hara
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Jul 6 2005 16:25

When they are small, Trotskyoid groups can seem wonderfully open-minded (eg the IMG, or even the pre-SWP IS).

That said, the WRP fragment they are from is the Healyite: they defended the old paedophile to the end. See the Lupus books production 'Gerry Healy A revolutionary Life' c0-written by Lotz/Feldman, complete with intro by that bastard Livingstone whining about how great Healy was.

Ironically (and their naivety re Shayler fits with this) these people lack one of the old WRP's strong points--a sense of the state.

Work with them on certain limited issues, certainly. But trust them an inch--certainly not. When supping with even ex-Trotskyists, use a very long spoon indeed.

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Lazy Riser's picture
Lazy Riser
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Jul 6 2005 20:11

Hi

Thanks for your comments. I'm really pleased you've all taken the trouble to post your thoughts. Larry, I hope you won’t think it too sycophantic for me to say that I thought your comments were especially insightful.

My guess is that after an initial take on of wide-eyed enthusiasts that orbit the stellar core of ex-WRP/MSF types, the group will stagnate as the credentials of its leadership become more widely known and they revert to a traditional cycle of campaign and defeat. This will be followed by a slow decline, infighting and fractures and a legacy of disillusioned ex-activists. The core will write up the experience as a chapter in their memoirs and try to make it in “radical” think tanks or as “New Statesman” style political journalists.

I share your distrust of organisations that do not go to an effort to explain the political heritage of its leadership. I haven’t got too many problems with the WRP, but if they are a WRP split, it's in my best interests for them to say so up front.

Lots of love

Chris